Free Geekery

Looking to waste a little time when the boss isn’t around? Don’t settle for your PC’s standard version of Free Cell or Minesweeper. There are plenty of free games to be played online and they are equally addictive. (And you won’t need to pull out your MasterCard to give them a try.) Try the following 10 free online games and you will undoubtedly be bookmarking them as soon as you do. There is a little something for everyone on this list.

1. Frogger
   There are many classic arcade games available online, but nothing compares to Frogger. The adventures of a frog making it through rush-hour traffic and a stream filled with alligators has stood the test of time. Boasting some quality arcade music and a classic “high score” menu, the online version of Frogger will transport old-school gamers back in time. Loading time is rapid, as well, so you can sneak in a quick game almost anywhere.
2. Project RockStar
   Project RockStar is an online role playing game (RPG) in which you act as manager of a rock group. Your object is to get the band signed and catapult them to stardom. For a free RPG, this game is complex and challenging. You can be really bold and manage more than one band, even an entire label. The site also boasts a very active forum, which will encourage repeat visits. You will have to register to play Project Rockstar, but there are absolutely no fees and you can compete with other “managers” in real time.
3. Word Whomp
   This game is Boggle meets Whac-a-Mole and if you are a bit of a wordsmith, you will love it. The object of Word Whomp is to make as many words as you can from the provided six letters. It is timed, so you will feel a little tense when first starting out. Add some animated gophers being bonked on the head and you have yourself an insanely addictive little game. Each round is quick, so this is the perfect five-minute timewaster.
4. Human-age
   Human-age is a free online sim game that is fun for the whole family. Your objective is to adopt a prehistoric human and assist him/her with evolving through the ages. You will start out in Age 1, living in caves and using kneecaps as currency. There are many ages to advance through, all the way up to the 21st century. If you are really dying to help your character out a bit, you can use a credit card to buy items for the game, but it isn’t necessary. The makers of Human-age claim that this option is only to help them pay server costs, so you won’t be goaded into buying anything.
5. Dawn of the Dead
   This is a free game that every horror geek should check out. Created as tie-in for the Dawn of the Dead remake several years ago, this zombie first-person shooter is still lingering in cyberspace. Perhaps that is because it really is scary and challenging. Use your radar to anticipate zombie attacks and don’t be surprised if you jump in your seat your first time playing. Incidentally, this game is definitely rated PG-13.
6. Jeopardy!
   If you like to play along with contestants at home while watching Jeopardy!, you may want to try your hand at the online version. This may be a little easier for you, as you will be provided with multiple choice answers. However, the rest of the game is just like the show, complete with the chance to risk everything on a Daily Double. A deluxe version, with even more questions, is available for download. However, the Web-based game is just as fun.
7. Mahjong
   A little more sophisticated than playing classic Solitaire, online Mahjong is extremely popular. The ancient Chinese tile game adapts nicely to the computer, requiring the player to match like tiles until all tiles are gone. Here’s the rub: you can only choose ones that have no tile on the left or right. It sounds simple, but it really isn’t. Mahjong is, however, very addictive and don’t be surprised if your eyes start to cross from staring at the tile designs for hours on end.
8. Tetris
   One could argue that Tetris is Russia’s greatest contribution to the world (although the country would likely object to that statement). The falling puzzle piece game has been popular for decades now and, although there have been many variations of the game, no one can compete with the classic version. Playing Tetris should come with a warning, as you will be seeing puzzle pieces drop when you close your eyes to sleep after a long session.
9. Space Cowboy
   You may have to download a small plugin
   to get this game running smoothly, but it is worth the extra minute. Space
   Cowboy is a futuristic racing game, akin to podracing
   for you Star Wars geeks. What makes it unique is that you can race other
   players in real time. For such a hassle-free game, the graphics are quite
   impressive. Feel free to join a race in progress or to start your own.
10. The Peanut Butter and Jelly Wars
    This is a funny little variation of Othello. It is a great way to get children interested in strategy games, but it is also challenging to adults. You can choose to play as jelly or peanut butter and the game board is in the shape of a piece of bread. Should you get stumped on where make your next move, there is a nice little cheat feature in the form of a “show” button.

If you are trying to save
some money, keep your entertainment budget to a minimum by playing the
above online games. If you get tired of these, there are thousands more where
they came from. Whether you are into RPGs, puzzles or just an old-fashioned
arcade game, the Internet offers a lot of free choices. Contrary to what many
will have you believe, not all video games have to be played on overly-priced
consoles.

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